Bob Barnard Track Engineering

Watched the Australian V8Supercars from The Circuit of the Americas this weekend. With Texas paying for these events wouldn't you think they would want Texas somewhere in the track name? Texas International Raceway perhaps, as corny and over used as that is, but perhaps some 1/4 mile drag strip or oval already has that. Goodness knows what it cost to fly that circus to town, and I hope Texas thinks it got its monies worth. The size of the crowd was never going to pay for it. Cars no one knows driven by people they have not heard of is not a recipe for success, ask Indycar. If possible there were even less people at Indy for Pole and Bump Days than at COTA. Does no one watch what goes on elsewhere in the world? Why do you think V8Supercars do not go to Bahrain any more, and Bahrain has more money to waste than Texas. This incredible white elephant cannot survive.

Talking of white elephants and people paying for them, Bernie is so determined to have a race in New York, or at least New Jersey looking at New York, that he is willing to pay for it.

http://www.pitpass.com/49086-Ecclestone-ready-to-buy-New-Jersey-race-promoter-to-get-race-off-the-ground

As soon as I heard the news of Long Beach and Pook I could see this coming. Well at least the race will happen, as long as Bernie is on the outside. The German Authorities seem to have other plans, but his mates at CVC say they will stick with him, as long as he is outside. And why not, they are on a "nice little earner" as they say in the classics.

Sir Jackie Stewart says he is very concerned at the lack of information coming out of Austin, as well he might. Meanwhile, was anyone else shocked at the amount of empty seats at the NASCAR race in Texas last weekend? With the "Chase" nearly over and two main guys duking it out for the title you still cannot sell tickets! NASCAR is in big trouble.

Another who is looking more in trouble is Bernie. The German court activity has at last woken the sleeping giant, the British tax man, to have a look at what Bernie has been doing and why. This should be interesting.

Great to see Alex Zanardi winning the hand bicycle class in the New York Marathon, you cannot keep a competitor down. On to the Olympics!

Just as you can't stop Kimi from racing it seems. Talks have been confirmed for him to come back to F1 with Williams.

Sorry for the gap in blogs, been on the road to check out our new home in Raleigh, NC. Still, it is quietening down with the seasons ending. I am surprised at the lack of comment my previous blog provoked, but we will fix this one way or another.